A FINAL decision is yet to be made on whether the "temporary" move of Redditch's chemo unit to Kidderminster will become permanent.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust moved the Garden Suite Chemotherapy Unit from Alexandra Hospital to Kidderminster Hospital "temporarily" during the pandemic to "protect patient safety."

However, in March trust bosses publicly said they may look at making this move permanent, with a decision set to be made in the summer. Paul Brennan, chief operating officer and deputy chief executive at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust told Worcestershire County Council's Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee earlier this month that the trust will be making a final decision about the chemo unit's future permanent location towards the end of this calendar year.

Redditch MP Rachel Maclean previously launched a petition calling for the Garden Suite to return to the Alex - which gained more than 5,000 signatures.

After initially claiming the petition was "not helpful" to the trust, Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier says he is now be working together with Mrs Maclean to ensure permanent chemo services are available at both hospitals.

In his previous column in The Shuttle, Mr Garnier said: "It would be great if we can keep the Garden Suite at our local hospital, but it is completely understandable that those in Redditch want it back.

"That is why the Redditch MP, Rachael Maclean, and I have teamed up to try to get the Worcestershire Acute Trust to look doubling the reach of the Garden Suite, having a permanent service in both Kidderminster and Redditch. Everyone can be a winner."

Rachel Maclean, MP for Redditch, said: “I have always been clear that the temporary re-location of the Garden Suite must be temporary. My position remains the same and I’m grateful to the more than 5,000 residents who have signed my petition calling for the return of the Garden Suite.

“My colleague Mark Garnier understands that the people of Redditch would like to see this service returned to their town’s hospital, but I also understand how Mark’s constituents would like this service to remain in Kidderminster.

“This is why myself and Mark are working together to get Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust to look at having a permanent ambulatory chemotherapy service in both Redditch and Kidderminster.”

Paul Brennan added: “We will continue to seek the views of colleagues and patients with a view to making a suggestion on the future plans for the Garden Suite towards the end of the year.”